There was a soft knock on the young prince's chambers. He groggily pushes himself up, the world seemingly spinning around him. He has never felt this before. It was an odd thing. He glanced around the room to realize it must be late into the evening. He settles himself as the door slowly creaks open and a handmaiden of Calaer steps in with what appeared to be his supper. She was like every other female elleth in Calaer. Bigger and taller than most with arms that could snap things in two so easily. Legolas had found out recently that most of the guards in Calaer were female, simply because they did things more neatly.

The elleth gives him an impassive look as she placed the tray on the bedside table. She gives a short curtsy before Legolas caught the soft melody of music playing outside.

"Thank you," he says quietly as the elleth bows lightly. "Is there a feast happening?" He asked curiously before the elleth could step out of his chambers. She gives him another brief nod before she leaves and closes the door behind her.

Legolas leans back on the beds wooden head board, his mind trying to piece in the scattered memories in his brain. It doesn't take long before another knock was on his door and Lord Elrond stepped in, a tired smile on his wise face.

"You are awake," he says, mildly surprise. Legolas nods as if to clarify that he was indeed awake and conscious. Lord Elrond strode over to him and placed a hand on his head. The wise elf's brows furrowed for the briefest moment before a smile returned to his face once more.

"Laralen must have worked long on you, I can hardly trace the darkness in you. Although we may still need to find a cure."

"Does she not have a cure?" The young prince asked and realized he did not even know why he needed a cure.

"The curse," Lord Elrond explains, choosing his words carefully. "It has reawaken in a way. Turwaithiel is one of the golden witches. A curse lies upon any or who falls in love with one of them."

Legolas could not stop the tightness in his throat or the sudden fear that gripped his heart.

"For now, Laralen is keeping the darkness from traveling all the way through your heart. She can only delay the process but not stop it. Ari has been nothing but furious. Laralen has practically exhausted herself trying to heal Mantheniel and now she has not stopped trying to save you."

Legolas listened and swore he heard something in Lord Elrond's voice that he has never heard in a long time from the Old Elven Lord. Admiration and...guilt?

"Hurry and eat and if you feel like it, perhaps you would like to attend the feast held in the queens honor. For her return and her visit," with a shadow of a smile, Lord Elrond left the room. Legolas sat, staring at the closed door for the longest moment before he finally moved towards the tray of food. First, he had to find Laralen and thank her. It seems he would never run out of debts when it came to that girl. Next, was to find Turwaithiel. Who was no doubt blaming herself and trying to figure out a way to save him. That thought made him smile. As kind as she was, she still seemed to have the same stubbornness that ran through Mantheniel and Lindethiel's blood.

The party was a small one, barely even a party at all. Laralen sat under a pavilion that seemed to be made of moon beams. She sat and watched as Bleon danced in front of her. In the circular dance floor of the city. The elves of the city were kind enough and Bleon was easily drawn to them. As always, he let his curious side win over his shy side. Laralen smiled as Bleon spun on his boots with an elven maid, much taller than him. She clapped and spun in time with him and Laralen wondered for a flicker of a heart beat about Bleon's parents. The same people she had called parents for a short while. True, it was not her decision to take Bleon with her but she felt no ounce of guilt for not returning him of telling him to go home. She could not imagine her life without Bleon. Nothing mattered more than him...but something else now mattered as much as him. She felt the familiar tightness in her chest as her eyes scan the crowded courtyard. He was not there, she knew this for she had been looking for him for almost an hour. Where he was she did not know and by the gods above she wanted to know.

"Would you like more wine, milady?" An elf offers her a glass, she takes it out of hospitality but she has never drank wine and the first cup had already started gaining control of her head. She stood, finding that she no longer wanted to sit and be idle. Bleon caught her with his eyes and she made a motion with her hands, telling him she would just be walking around. He gave her a small nod and a smile.

Laralen walked, away from the music and away from the crowd. The goblet of wine was cold in her hands as she walked the endless stone paths. She felt utterly alone and scared. She had no idea what was happening and even allowed herself to wonder if she had not left Bree that day with Turwaithiel, where would she be now? She found a deserted, quiet spot near a small pond. The soft trickle of water and the cool night breeze that carried parts of the music from the feast were her only company. In this place, she let herself think. She let herself sit on the soft grass as she stared at the shimmering moon light on the waters surface. She let herself be alone.

Elrohir had been walking aimlessly across the stone city. He had no idea what he was trying to do or find but his feet won't let him stop so he resumed his march until he stumbled upon her. Sitting quietly and still on the ground. He even thought she was asleep until he noticed the cup in her hands. She was holding on to it tightly, as if she was scared it would fall or disappear entirely. She had not spoken to him after they found out about the prince and a part of him understood why. She was afraid. He never allowed himself to feel such a feeling but by the Valar he was afraid, too. Not of the curse but of losing her to this curse. No wonder elves have gone mad because of love. This was entirely knew and confusing to him. All he did know and all that he was sure of was he would do anything in his power to be with her. Anything. He knew Legolas felt the same for Turwaithiel. What he was not sure now was how Laralen felt. She seemed to be good at hiding her emotions. So good that even he can't understand her. He kept his gaze on her, her light golden hair seemingly glowing under the moon light, giving her an illusion of a halo. She seemed to not have sensed his presence and he argued for a moment between going to her or leaving her there so she could think. He found that if given the choice, he would never chose to leave her so he took a tentative step towards her and her head swiveled slowly to his direction. Her eyes were bright, like the same emerald stones Elrohir had once studied. For a moment, no one spoke but her look had managed to tell him everything. It was as if she had finally opened them and allowed him to look inside her. She blinked once and it was enough for him to step closed and sit beside her. She smelled faintly of the flowers that grew in Imladris' gardens and of sweet wine.

"I am afraid," she said quietly after a spell. She leaned into him ever so lightly but it was enough to let him release the air he did not even know he was holding inside his lungs. She was not giving up on them. She would not leave him as well. He took the cup from her hand and after carefully placing it on a flat surface, took her hand in his. They felt cold and fragile but he knew them to be soft and strong.

"I am too," he confessed after. "But we cannot let fear control us. There is hope and we must take it." He felt her grip his hand tighter, determination set on her brows.

"I will not- cannot- let you die," she said although her voice shook, her eyes held the strength of an army ready to go to war and Elrohir had to use all of his power not to kiss her right then and there for it would seem inappropriate to cut her off from what seemed like a speech. "We will win this. We will." She said and mostly it was to herself. He raised her hand and kissed it lightly.

"I will never- cannot- let you go," he seemed to say but she knew he was trying to make her laugh and despite the strong urge not to, she cracked a smile. A smile his mind seemed to memorize and embed in his brain. Something to fight for. Then he kissed her. Determination on her face was one thing but what he felt for her when she smiled was another and he could only control himself to a limit.

There was hope between their clasped hands and no matter how small it may seemed, they held on to it.

-

Legolas found Turwaithiel on one of the high towers of Calaer. In a balcony, outstretched on a bench. Her hand dangling off one edge, a book almost slipping through her fingers. He smiled then, seeing her in such a state. He had been looking for anyone and fate seemed to have brought him to her. Perhaps his father can wait and perhaps Laralen would not mind if he stayed here for a little while.

Without a sound, he made his way over to Turwaithiel's sleeping figure. Her hair scattered behind her as she used her hands as a pillow. Legolas leaned quietly, and slowly took the book from her hands. It was a book about the golden witches of the darkened land. She stirred but did not wake as he placed the book on one end of the bench. He watched her sleep and wished to see her sleep every single night for the rest of his life. He sat, his legs crossed underneath him and watched her fall into a soft rhythm of breathing. She looked even more beautiful as the moon light danced on her skin and the soft wind carried strands of her hair. He could stay like this forever, he thought as his hands slid up slowly to touch the skin of her face, lightly. He brushed tendrils of her hair and she crunched up her nose, annoyed at the sudden disturbance of her slumber. Legolas bit back a chuckle as her nose seemed to wriggle like how a rabbit's nose would. He cannot even remember a time when he was not in love with her.

Then a horrible memory surfaced in his brain. The memory of that illusion like dream where Turwaithiel had turned into Tauriel. It felt like numerous punches in his gut. What had the vision mean? What was its purpose? He closes his eyes, forcing the memory away as Turwaithiel began to mumble. When he opened his eyes, the familiar blue hue of her eyes met him and he was filled with a sudden calm. As if everything in the world was right again.

Turwaithiel needed a moment to register her surroundings. She had fallen asleep, that was sure for she felt the stiffness of her body due to her position and the weight of sleep settled on her like a boulder. What she had not expected was to find the prince watching her, not even trying to hide the mere fact he had been watching her sleep. A blush crept up her cheeks as she shook the heaviness of sleep out of her body and pushed herself up. Legolas did not move, he simply continued watching her.

"I fell asleep," she pointed out, to no one in particular. She heard the prince chuckle and she met his gaze once more, still not convinced she was not having one of her vivid dreams again. But this was no dream. No. Not after he reached out and touched her hand gently. A dream can't feel this real.

"Why are you not in bed?" She asked, her voice growing frantic. She worried about him endlessly but the young prince merely smiled at her. A lazy smile that sent her stomach flying.

"I could ask you the same thing," he seemed to say and she narrowed her eyes, inspecting the playfulness of his demeanor.

"Seriously, Legolas," she went on. "You should be resting."

"We should be resting," he corrected, still in a playful tone and she could not help but shake her head, standing up and fixing the creases on her gown.

"Let us get you back to your chambers," she said strictly and Legolas cracked a smile as he stood up and 'let' her lead him back to his chambers.

"Lord Elrond said I was fit enough to enjoy the feast for a short while," he argued as they walked the empty halls. She kept walking, as if ignoring him, and walked even faster. Legolas raised a brow, watching her back.

"Are you ill?" He asked when they were near his room. She turned to face him and he stopped dead on his tracks. The corners of her eyes were rimmed with new tears and she glared accusingly at him, although her eyes held more pain than anger.

"Do you have any idea how it feels to watch you almost looking like death itself?" Her voice broke and she sucked in a breath, her lips quivering with the need to cry but she held back. She roughly wiped back the tears with the back of her hand and bit her lips to shut them tight. "You have been in a death like state for two days straight. I didn't know what to do. I read all the books, searched through every. Single. Thing. And I-" she broke off, shaking her head and turning away from him. Something inside him cracked open and his heart seemed to start screaming desperately for her. Her shoulders shook and he was sure she was already crying. He felt her guilt and wished he could take it away. Take all her pain away.

"Turwaithiel," he called as his hands slipped across her shoulders. She didn't flinch nor did she feel strange. His touch was familiar. His touch was wanted. She let him turn her and his hands wrapped around her waist as he pulled her against his chest. She shook against him. Her ragged breathing and the distinct sobbing muffled against his tunic.

"I'm sorry," he began and felt her head shake against his chest.

"It's...its all my...my fault," she sobbed and he pulled her tighter.

"Please," he began. "Please stop blaming yourself."

"I thought I'd never hear your voice again," she confessed as her head turned upwards to face him. Her blue eyes dull and dark.

He placed a soft kiss on her forehead before he wiped away her tears.

"Bury your fears," he whispered against the softness of hair on her head. "I have no plans of leaving you. Not in this lifetime or the next. For as long as I am able, you will never stop hearing me say how much I love you or how beautiful you are or-"

"I love you," she says quickly, almost too desperately. "By the Valar, I love you and that is the reason why you're going to-"

"-shh," he shushed her. He knew somehow about what she was going to say. About the curse and the reason for it. When he pledged himself to her, they knew nothing of this threat but now, knowing what lies beyond, he never did regret telling her how he felt.

"I do no regret anything," he says firmly. "I do not wish you to regret anything." Her eyes welled up again and he did what he had wanted to do since finding her. He dipped his head low and caught her lips with his and for a moment, everything was perfect once more. He had no idea what the future held. Nothing but the uncertainty of it all but one thing was for sure, he loved her and she loved him and that was what mattered most.

Outside, the music had died down to a soft melody. Manthaniel watched the festivities unfold on one of the open balconies.

"Melleth nin, come inside, you will catch a cold out there," Thranduil's voiced called behind her. She turned to meet his eyes as he strode slowly over to her. He looked like the whole world was upon his shoulders and she wished she had the power to brush it off him. She offered him a smile in which he returned with a sigh. He stalked over to her, knowing her stubbornness, and joined her on the open balcony. The moon hung in the sky, cold and distant as the stars. He unclasped his cloak and wrapped it around her and she welcomed his warmth. He kissed her forehead and watched the scene below them.

"It is a party for me and yet I had to retire early," she stated in a bored tone. Thranduil placed an arm around her shoulder and she leaned into him. She had missed him way too much.

"They will understand," he replied although she could feel him warm and strong beside her, he seemed far away.

"Legolas will be alright," she tells him although she did not whole heartedly believe it. He offered his wife a small smile, grateful for everything she had given him. He gives a soft nod before silence falls on them again. He needed a distraction, she thought. She bit her lip, trying to think of anything to keep his mind off his troubles for just tonight then a thought hit her. She still had not told him she was with child. How would he react? Knowing him, he could react in two different ways. She had a war with herself between telling him and not. She was so deep in thought she had not realized he was already observing her with the same look he would always give her when she did something he found interesting. Despite it being an ordinary thing. Like biting her lip.

"Melleth nin," he nuzzled against her ear. She replied with a half-hearted 'hmmm'. "Your lips are bleeding," he pointed out and she suddenly snapped out of her trance, her face darting towards him.

"Sorry," she muttered, her cheeks burning hot. Not how a married woman should react. To her surprised he simply smiled and kissed her again on the head. She had to tell him.

"Thranduil," she started. He cocked an eyebrow at the mention of his name. She ignored him. She opened her hand towards him.

"Give me your hand," she begins and Thranduil, looking more interested than ever, placed a hand over her small ones. She sucked in a breath as she held his hand tightly and brought their hands to her stomach, where she was sure he would feel it immediately.

For a moment, she thought perhaps the child was still too premature to be felt but she hardly had any idea about pregnancy but with Thranduil's slight quick movement, she knew he had felt something. She felt his hand press against her abdomen and she forced her eyes to remain on the moon. She heard his breathing hitch and she waited a beat before finally turning to face him, a worried expression on her face. He did not seem...happy?

"Is this..." He began as his hand remained where it was. "What I am feeling. This small flicker of light and life...is this..." He couldn't even say it and Mantheniel was starting to regret telling him. She nodded, almost too sad to speak.

"How long?"

"Not long...mid-autumn?" She explained, counting the days and weeks that have passed since she had found out. He inhaled sharply before spinning on his heels and walking away from her. She stared after him and watched him pace inside the room, glancing at her every now and then. Her heart drummed inside her chest. What if he did not want a child? Fear started to build as Thranduil ran his hands over his face at least a dozen times before he stopped pacing and his hand was over his face. She swallowed, her hand on her belly.

"I thought that... I thought..." She began but stopped when she heard an unfamiliar sound. A sharp intake of breath that someone makes when he or she cried.

"Thranduil?" She called. Was he that disappointed? She stepped towards him, a hand on his shoulder. It was stupid if she was to apologize. Thranduil turned to face her and her assumption was correct. He, the great king of the woodland realm, had tears in his eyes. She did not know how to react.

"You are with child," he said quietly. Mantheniel nodded. "Our child." She nodded again, despite the silly question. "We are going to have a child." She nodded once more before he pulled her to him and kissed her fiercely that when they broke apart, she felt the world was still spinning too fast.

"A child!" He exclaimed and her fear vanished. He was happy. She breathed out a sigh of relief as he kissed her again and again and again. On her head, her nose, her cheeks and her lips. Again and again. She had never seen him this ecstatic and she could not help but giggle as he showered her with kisses. Another side of her husband she had never seen before and was grateful to have witnessed.

"Who knows?" He suddenly asked her and she smiled shyly. Almost everyone already did. He cursed inwardly, a small hint of guilt and sadness on his face.

"I wanted to tell you... It's just that... There never seemed to be a perfect time and I-" he cut her off with another kiss and pressed his forehead against hers.

"Do not worry about it, melleth nin," he assured her. "You are going to be a mother...we...a child!"

He could not even seem to formulate a sentence anymore and Mantheniel shared in his happiness. He placed a hand over her belly and felt the flicker of life. And he never felt more hopeful that perhaps, the Valar had given him
the sign of hope he had asked for.

--

Authors note: ah well? This was the best that I could do. xD I hope you guys enjoyed it? lol Now I gotta go back to studying. *cries*